Sam Howell

While most of the marquee names have already been selected, there are plenty of promising prospects still waiting to be taken in the NFL draft.

Salyer should become the 10th Georgia player taken in this draft, which would set a school record for any one class. For a run-heavy team, however, the 6-5, 322-pounder could be a mauling presence up front. His 5-8, 170-pound frame might scare off some teams, but his 4.32-second speed in the 40-yard dash will entice others. The only player from our top 50 big board yet to be selected, Winfrey can be a wildly disruptive interior presence ... when he plays under control. But establishing depth and bringing on low-cost talent at key positions can be an essential step toward building a contender, as it was for the defending champion Los Angeles Rams in recent years. And in 2022, there's plenty of notable talent still on the board entering Saturday.

With the No. 144 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders have selected quarterback Sam Howell out of UNC.

Athleticism is respectable but he won't be a designed-running threat in the NFL like was in college. Bounces around in the pocket but is often too antsy and pulls it down to run too quickly. Will not be able to run like he did in college but this is quality value and Carson Wentz insurance.

It has often been said that the quarterback position is the most important position in all of professional sports. If that is the case, as the Pittsburgh.

I recognize that Howell is by no means a finished product as his play dropped off from 2020 to 2021, showing signs of lack of pocket presence and overall awareness of the rush, bouncing around in the pocket, patting the football before throwing, and a tendency to have some passes sail on him at times. Whatever you personal thoughts on Howell as a prospect may be, the possibly of being the pick is something the Steelers should at least consider. Over the first two days of the draft, the Steelers have selected the presumed future face of the franchise with QB Kenny Pickett. They also selected Georgia WR George Pickens who figures to play often in three WR sets in his rookie year and either replace Diontae Johnson should he walk in free agency in 2023 or unseat Chase Claypool as one of the two primary receivers on the field. The question is, do these positions trump the value and need of potentially adding another quality signal caller to the roster? Looking at their first three picks, I can firmly say that Colbert likely accomplished his mission of adding three players that should be able to become starters sooner rather than later in Pittsburgh. Now, heading into Day Three of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Steelers will likely look to address the needs of depth on the roster. GM Kevin Colbert made it clear in the pre-draft press conference that they feel the team’s first three draft picks must become starters in order for the draft to be successful in their eyes.

UNC football standout Sam Howell was one of the players impacted by the lack of quarterbacks taken early in this year's NFL Draft.

It’s disappointing to see Howell slide down the draft board, but it could be a good thing for him. Of course, you also have to throw in the “mystery team” component, as literally, anything is possible. Unfortunately, Howell was not among that small crop of quarterbacks taken, as he has slipped into at least the fourth round of the draft.

Once projected as the top quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft class, UNC's record-breaking Sam Howell has fallen out of the first three rounds.

Likewise, Corral (2 percent), Ridder (4 percent) and Howell (19 percent) had been projected to be taken before the third round by considerable margins. Ridder, Willis, Corral and Howell remained undrafted by the start of the third round Friday night, against long odds. Join our ‘Big Four and More’ newsletter that’s delivered right to your email Ridder didn’t come off the board until the third round Friday night. The draft resumes Saturday with Rounds 4-7. “Somebody will be lucky to get him,” Brown said recently.

Former North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell finally got to hear his named called at the 2022 NFL draft at the beginning of the fifth round on Saturday.

The 29-year-old quarterback showed flashes of his natural talent last year in Indianapolis, throwing for 3,563 yards and 27 touchdowns, but made numerous mistakes during critical moments of the Colts’ season. He ended the year with career-lows in passing yards (3,056) and touchdowns (24), while throwing nine interceptions in 12 games. The team around him this year wasn’t good, and they won seven games, and I doubt if you switch any of the other guys here in for him, they do any better.”

"Sam Howell to me, if you look at what he did in college, so productive," ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said. "I think he throws the best deep ball of any ...

It's also worth noting that Howell will reunite with wide receiver Dyami Brown, the Commanders third-round selection in 2021. The touch, the teardrop that he’s able to drop in between defenders and hit his wide receivers in stride." Over his three-year career, Howell threw for over 10,000 yards with 92 touchdown passes and just 23 interceptions.

The Washington Commanders had multiple opportunities to select North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell before eventually landing him.

Washington was in on Howell throughout the process. Four of those players were selected in the 2021 NFL draft, including wide receiver Dyami Brown to Washington. Sam Howell was arguably the best quarterback prospect in this class.